Chapter 1185
“So, what’s your plan?” Thalassa could only go along with what Hertha had in mind.
“Just come with me, and I’ll play it by ear,” Hertha said, knowing that the real reason she wanted company was that she felt braver and more confident with someone by her side. Plus, it gave her the chance to be her cunning self.
Without Thalassa, she’d chicken out at the crucial moment, worried about messing things up, especially with a guy who had a PhD from abroad.
“Alright, I’ll take the afternoon off to be there with you,” Thalassa agreed.
“You’re the best, Thalassa, love ya! Mwah!” Hertha teased playfully.
That afternoon, Thalassa asked Ethan for a half-day off and headed to the restaurant Hertha had mentioned.
Hertha was already waiting at the entrance. Seeing Thalassa, she warmly linked arms with her and said, “I see him. He’s over there by the window. Let’s head straight over.”
Arm in arm, they approached the cozy corner of the restaurant where a man sat, the very picture of a scholar with his rimless glasses and neither slim nor chubby build.
He wore a crisp white shirt, set off by a classic blue and red striped tie, and had the sort of handsome look that stood out in a crowd, exuding a learned charm.
“Hi there, you must be Spencer?” Hertha greeted him with a smile.
The man looked up, glanced at Hertha, then at Thalassa, and stood up with a polite smile, “Yes, I’m Spencer. Which one of you is Ms. Kensington?”.
“This is Hertha Kensington, and I’m her best friend, here for moral support,” Thalassa
introduced.
“Please, have a seat.” Spencer gestured warmly to the chairs opposite him. He beckoned the waiter and passed the menus to them.
“Take a look, whatever you girls feel like eating,” he suggested, encouraging them to
choose.
With a broad grin, Hertha said, “Why don’t you pick, Spencer? We’re not picky eaters.”
“Sure, but don’t hesitate to speak up if you want something else,” Spencer offered.
He asked the waiter for the restaurant’s signature dishes and added a few more to the order.
The waiter took the menus and went off to prepare their meal.
Spencer looked at Hertha with a genteel smile and asked, “What do you enjoy doing in
11.4
Chapter 1185
your spare time, Ms. Kensington?”
The standard pattern of a blind date – inquire about hobbies.
Hertha awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, secretly pulling on Thalassa’s sleeve, hoping for some assistance.
This formulaic dating ritual was beyond her.
Thalassa, sipping water, sensed Hertha’s plea for help and spoke up, “She’s a jewelry designer and she likes to draw.”.
Hertha stifled a laugh. She liked to draw? Aside from her work-related sketches, she hardly ever picked up a pencil. Her real passion was hitting the bars for a drink.
Saying that might just frighten Spencer off, though.
Hearing about her supposed love for drawing, Spencer was delighted. “I also enjoy drawing and even enrolled in an art class. It’s a pleasure to meet someone professional
like
you, Ms. Kensington. I hope you can give me some pointers in the future. I could even consider you my mentor.”
As Spencer’s enthusiasm seemed to soar, Hertha quickly interjected, “No, no, I can’t be anyone’s teacher. Besides, you’re the academic one. How could a slacker like me teach you? My friend only told you half the story; I design jewelry but don’t actually enjoy drawing. I love visiting bars and having a drink.”
Her blunt admission caused Spencer’s smile to freeze momentarily.
Just as Hertha was about to spill more of her less-than-ideal habits, seeing Spencer’s apparent disapproval of bar-hopping, the restaurant door swung open.
Several familiar faces entered, and one man in particular made Hertha’s heart sink.
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